Creating a Jewish Home - Helpful Resources

An authentic Conservative Jewish lifestyle - while fostered and enriched through the synagogue - ultimately begins in the family home. The United Synagogue has created a number of publications and programs to help families create sacred space where Jewish living is natural and joyous and Jewish memories will be created. Below, we highlight a few of these resources. They're yours for the asking!

For the People of the Book

Perek Yomi and Mishnah Yomit. Over the past several years, thousands of Conservative Jews have had an opportunity to participate in programs of daily study under the auspices of the United Synagogue. Whether through Perek Yomi, which invites you to read a chapter of Tanakh each day, or Mishnah Yomit, a more recent USCJ project devoted to daily learning of Rabbinic texts, participants have taken advantage of the exciting opportunity to "grow" their Jewish knowledge. For more information on both these programs, contact Dr. Morton K. Siegel, 212-533-7800, ext. 2324, or e-mail siegel@uscj.org.

Luah for the Conservative Movement: Order of Prayers, Blessings and Torah Readings for Synagogue and Home Table. Updated yearly, this English-language publication - a joint project of the United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly - is spiral bound and user friendly, including Hebrew and civil calendar dates and giving detailed instructions for rituals as well as suggested tzedakah projects. Available from the United Synagogue Book Service.

Art/Engagement Calendar. Produced yearly, this wonderful calendar contains essays on important Jewish topics as well as phoots of exquisite Judaica from our affiliated congregations. Also included are listings of Jewish holidays, Shabbat candlelighting times, Torah and haftarah readings, a 16-month calendar, and more. Contact cheerman@uscj.org.

Holidays

Resources for home use. Look through the information in the Holidays section of our website for valuable resources to help you and your family understand and celebrate Jewish holidays.

Sukkot Building and the Mitzvah of the Sukkah. Plans for building a sukkah and encouraging others to do so. Contact the Department of Congregational Programming, edelman@uscj.org.

Kashrut

Kosher: Sanctifying the Ordinary. This vibrant, interactive CD explaining Jewish dietary laws, a joint project of the United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly, is designed for both Jewish professionals and laypeople of all ages and levels of religious knowledge. Jews seeking to keep kosher will find specific step-by-step guidance to simplify and organize what may at first seem a daunting task, while rabbis and laypeople will find scholarly material on the content, traditional sources and rationales for kashrut, as well as the responsa on kashrut by the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. A special interactive section for children provides age-appropriate information. Also offered are family activities that probe the experience of keeping kosher. The CD is both IBM and Macintosh compatible. Available from the United Synagogue Book Service.

"Mazel Tov! Your Child's Bar and Bat Mitzvah" and "Mazel Tov! Your Wedding". Brochures designed to explain, in friendly language, the importance of kashrut at the meal celebrating these important life-cycle events. Contact the Education Department, education@uscj.org.

Shabbat

B'kol Echad. This best-selling songster is found in homes throughout the world. Includes Shabbat and holiday blessings, z'mirot, Hebrew songs, Grace after Meals, songs of Israel, wedding blessings. Also, Shirei B'kol Echad, a double cassette album used as a companion to the songster. Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz sings Shabbat z'mirot, traditional Hebrew songs, and blessings (including the full Birkat HaMazon). Available from the United Synagogue Book Service. Personalized copies are available for weddings and other special events.

"Torah Sparks". A discussion guide for weekly Torah readings. Contains an outline and several themes developed for direct participation of congregants in Shabbat morning services or in study groups.

Contact the United Synagogue Book Service on-line for a variety of wonderful books on Shabbat, such as:

• A Treasury of Shabbat Inspiration - An anthology, edited by Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, of sources rich in wisdom, representing a broad spectrum of Jewish thought, expressing the joy and meaningfulness of Shabbat.
• Oneg Shabbat: Prayers and Blessings for the Shabbat Home Table - Edited by Joseph F. Mendelsohn, this booklet provides detailed guidance on how to perform the Shabbat table rituals and includes explanations about their meaning. Each Hebrew blessing is accompanied by a translation and transliteration.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

"Tefillin: And You Shall Bind Them". Written by Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg, this book for pre-bar and bat mitzvah age children provides a rationale and how-to information on tefillin. Available from the United Synagogue Book Service.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel. Let our Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center help you arrange your bar/bat mitzvah in Israel. Contact israel@uscj.org.